Robshaw after fortress Twickenham

Editor

England captain Chris Robshaw has called on his side to turn Twickenham into a fortress with just over a year to go until the World Cup.

England captain Chris Robshaw has called on his side to turn Twickenham into a fortress with just over a year to go until the 2015 World Cup.

The Harlequins flanker skippered England in all three June Tests against New Zealand where England performed well but were unable to turn good displays into results, losing the series 3-0.

That series result, combined with the failure to win the Six Nations crown on points difference to Ireland, has left England in need of some good performances in November, when they will face the Southern Hemisphere big three at Twickenham.

And despite impressive displays in June from the All Blacks, South Africa and Australia, Robshaw insists England have to perform in November.

“People come now expecting us to win and we have got to deliver,” he told the Express.

“Three years ago people were probably a bit unsure of what we were capable of as a team.

“But now we are on home ground and we need to make it pay. Every time the squad meets up we seem to be better than we were.

“We have got three campaigns – the World Cup is the big one at the end and everyone is coming to Twickenham to win that.

“Every other side wants to come to Twickenham and say, 'We know how to win there.' It is a home venue and we want to make that a fortress.

“It is a daunting place to come – we want to do what the team in 2003 did – they made it a formidable fortress. We are slowly getting on that curve.”